The Zurich based practice Michael Meier und Marius Hug Architekten realised this swimming facility in Jona, a small town on Lake Zurich in Switzerland. The pavilion accommodates an entrance and exit, changing rooms with lockers and showers, as well as a self service restaurant and is characterised by expressive rhythmical concrete ribs which support the amply overhanging roof.

Stampf swimming facility by Michael Meier und Marius Hug Architekten

Here is what the architects explain:

“Two structurally independent insertions do not come into contact with the rib-supported roof on the inside, allowing views through the building from far away. The untreated materials of concrete, white artificial resin plates, glass and aluminium coloured window frames contrast with the rich green of the sunbathing lawn. Towards the lake, the building creates a head to accommodate the restaurant, while the rear-facing, narrower end is used for changing rooms and technical rooms. The roof, the insertions and the foundation base are treated separately, allowing the creation of an array of different rooms. A covered patio is situated in front of the restaurant and transforms into a sun terrace through the extended building base plate. Along the sunbathing lawn, a protected area beneath the roof connects the restaurant with the changing rooms and the entrance. In this area, the roof folds in an opening gesture, whereby the edge of the roof and the head ends of the bearing ribs stretch upwards at oblique angles. The search for a concrete, direct approach is highlighted by deciding against an incline for the edge of the roof and the ribs’ head ends, and is also reflected in the detached insertions, roof, foundation base and the untreated materials. ”